Gateway M-6841 8512778 - Gateway Notebook User Guide for Windows Vista R2 - Page 42

Creating WMA and MP3 music files, Building a music library - format notebook

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CHAPTER 4: Playing and Creating Media Files Creating WMA and MP3 music files Important Some music CDs have copy protection software. You cannot copy tracks from copy-protected CDs. Using Windows Media Player, you can copy the tracks from a music CD to your notebook's hard drive as WMA or MP3 files. WMA and MP3 are methods for digitally compressing high-fidelity music into compact files without noticeably sacrificing quality. WMA files end in the file extension WMA, and MP3 files end in the file extension MP3. To create WMA or MP3 files: 1 Click (Start), All Programs, then click Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player opens. 2 Right-click the Rip tab, click Format, then click Windows Media Audio or mp3 to select the format you want for your music files. 3 Insert a music CD into your optical disc drive. 4 Click the Rip tab. The Rip screen opens. 5 Click to clear the check box for any track you do not want to record, then click Start Rip. Windows Media Player records the tracks to your hard drive. A progress bar appears next to each track as it is recorded. Tip For more information about ripping music from CDs, click the Rip tab, then click Help with Ripping. Building a music library Use Windows Media Player to build a music library. You can organize your music tracks (individual MP3 or WMA audio files) by categories, find a track quickly by sorting, and add information to a music file. You can add music tracks to your music library by: • Creating MP3 or WMA files-When you create MP3 or WMA files from the tracks on your music CD, Windows Media Player automatically adds these files to your music library. • Dragging and Dropping-Drag and drop files from Windows Explorer or your desktop to the music library. Caution During the download process, WMA and MP3 files may become corrupt. If you are having trouble playing a downloaded file, try downloading the file again. • Downloading files from the Internet-When you are connected to the Internet, WMA and MP3 files that you download are automatically added to your music library. 36

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CHAPTER 4: Playing and Creating Media Files
36
Creating WMA and MP3 music files
Using Windows Media Player, you can copy the tracks from a music CD to your notebook’s hard
drive as WMA or MP3 files.
WMA
and
MP3
are methods for digitally compressing high-fidelity music
into compact files without noticeably sacrificing quality. WMA files end in the file extension
WMA
,
and MP3 files end in the file extension
MP3
.
To create WMA or MP3 files:
1
Click
(
Start
),
All Programs
, then click
Windows Media Player
. Windows Media Player
opens.
2
Right-click the
Rip
tab, click
Format
, then click
Windows Media Audio
or
mp3
to select
the format you want for your music files.
3
Insert a music CD into your optical disc drive.
4
Click the
Rip
tab. The
Rip
screen opens.
5
Click to clear the check box for any track you do not want to record, then click
Start Rip
.
Windows Media Player records the tracks to your hard drive. A progress bar appears next
to each track as it is recorded.
Building a music library
Use Windows Media Player to build a music library. You can organize your music
tracks
(individual
MP3 or WMA audio files) by categories, find a track quickly by sorting, and add information to a
music file.
You can add music tracks to your music library by:
Creating MP3 or WMA files—When you create MP3 or WMA files from the tracks on your
music CD, Windows Media Player automatically adds these files to your music library.
Dragging and Dropping—Drag and drop files from Windows Explorer or your desktop to the
music library.
Downloading files from the Internet—When you are connected to the Internet, WMA and MP3
files that you download are automatically added to your music library.
Important
Some music CDs have copy protection software. You cannot copy tracks from
copy-protected CDs.
Tip
For more information about ripping music from CDs, click the
Rip
tab, then
click
Help with Ripping
.
Caution
During the download process, WMA and MP3 files may become corrupt. If you
are having trouble playing a downloaded file, try downloading the file again.